Nearly everyone enjoys eating out at a nice restaurant with friends and family, and why wouldn’t we? It’s a great way to get out the house and socialise with friends, plus you don’t even have to cook! But this luxury comes at a price … literally.

By Mikaela Kagan

Fortunately, there are ways to enjoy a meal out without doing serious damage to your pockets. With a few strategic tricks in mind, you can keep the cost to a minimum and still enjoy a delicious meal!

1. Say NO to bottled water
Don’t be afraid to order from the tap! It’s as refreshing as the bottled kind, and you’re allowed to order as many glasses as you like. If you don’t particularly enjoy tap water for whatever reason, don’t be shy to ask for ice and lemon. This is a great way to add some flavour to the mix.

2. Three-course meal for who now?
While it might seem like a nice gesture to order a few starters for the table, this will significantly boost up the price of your meal. If you’re feeling particularly hungry, have a light snack before you leave the house.

If you’re craving something sweet after your meal, why not take a drive to the nearest fast-food restaurant for a delicious soft-serve ice-cream? They’re cheap, easily accessible, and really hit the spot!

3. Bye-bye booze
You’ve probably noticed that alcohol can often cost the same (if not more) than your meal alone. To keep the bill to minimum, stick to soft drinks instead. If you’re in the mood to go out on the town, save your money for the bars – their drinks are a bit cheaper than your average restaurant.

4. Don’t waste food!
We often under-estimate just how big restaurant portions can be, resulting with half our meal still on our plate once we’re done. It’s totally fine to not finish your meal, but don’t let your leftovers go to waste! Ask your waiter to wrap it in a doggy bag, and have it for dinner the next night (or for breakfast, whatever tickles your fancy).